Mamutti

Our black belt test has one of the four phases designated as physical endurance. We prepare students for this at each belt level. For my next test, I have to do 125 pushups, 125 Situps, 25 finger tip pushups, a 2 mile run, bag work, and then boxing. Having done this before, none of it is hard alone, but combined on a very hot July day really tested me. The bag work, minute on minute off, was the hardest part especially right before the boxing. I went into that exhausted. My general curriculum test lasted about 3 hours and was just as tiring- forms, techniques and self defenses at full power and speed.; it also included sparring. I would include this as part of our physical requirement. We also have sat preparation days for all candidates.

When I first starting training in the martial arts, I loved the positive reinforcement. As I continued to train, I thrived more on the challenges and wanting people to be honest and critical with me about both my technique and my attitude. I didn't want people to ever let me slide and generally they don't. However, this past week, I had a heated discussion with my instructor, I lost my cool, and used what I consider to be a disrespectful tone, even though my comment was valid. I apologized all afternoon, and he accepted. When I got home and thought about it, I really wished he would have had me do a few hundred pushups or some thing. It would have made me feel better, and I deserved it. In today's world, sometimes we try to avoid consequence of our actions. I see many parents who don't want their children to pay any price for their behavior; they protect them. This does not build character or strong people. Of course all punishment should fit the so called crime. As many people have said, balance is important.. be positive when there is reason, be critical when it is necessary.. kids need both, not just fluff. We use the praise correct praise, and sometimes I just feel it is too sugar coated. In the end, just be honest and respond out of concern, not anger.

thanks for the input.. My intial reaction is that I do far more than a receptionist.. I design ads, I do all the daily receipts, I give significant input to curriculum, I put systems into place for black belt testing,prepare tax figures. I am in charge when the owner is away, and we work otogether to make changes and inprovements in the school .. I supervise a staff of 20, so we are a large karate school.. 12 or so of them are instructors. I am not the head instructor.. which at our school is mere a title that goes to the instructor with the most seniority.. she is asked to consult on different subject and she teaches two nights a week, and attends testing events, but does not have any real duties that come with her position.. I taught for two year with no pay while I was working so at another job. I now work 40+ hours a week . I just wanted to know how people figure out a profit sharing or whatever. We don't use a billing company; they wanted 9% of our intake. I do it all myself and we are just looking for a fair way of compensating me and we wanted to know what others do.

Hi, I am currently running a martial arts school for my teacher. Does anyone have information about what a typical school manager receives for a salary or what the normal percentage is for someone in my position? or where I can find this information.In addition to the daily running of the school, all enrollment and renewal goes though me. I supervise the staff, teach, do all the programming, answer the phones, play a major role in all school activities, write the newsletter, in addition to running a 300 member gym in the same facility. I need help.. I am feeling over worked and underpaid as I watch the school's profits increase since I have had the job. My teacher is also looking for the answer to this question, so Iam not complaining or being sneaky! thank you, MAMUTTI

Our school has its BB testing phase over a number of weeks. Our head instructor also conducts reviews with just the candidates for about two months before hand. People are dropped out during all phases including the reviews so that only the people actually receiving belts come to the final performance phase. Parent stand up and speak to the children, and the school reads section of the students' essay on why they wanted to be a black belt. The whole school is invited and we all bring food to celebrate. The karate school provides the pizza. It is always a positive night because only those who have passed are participating.

Hapkido-cougar, In our school, we have to take a written test, write an essay, box, run, do pushup, situps , create a form, as well as know all current and all past material to test for our black belt. The testing takes place over four days. We also have to create a personal challenge to be completed on the last day of black belt testing. I was just interested in what others have to do for their final test or if they had any traditions associated with being an apprentice black belt. does this help? Sorry if I was unclear. [ This Message was edited by: Mamutti on 2002-05-27 05:31 ]

Hello Everyone, I just received my apprentice belt in TSD last week, and despite all the debate about the good, bad and ugly of belt systems, I am excited to enter this phase of my training. I really like all the attention to detail I am receiving from my instructors, but I am always nervous now in class. Anyone have any advice or good stories, or challenges they faced? I am also interested in what types of physical requirements other people had to pass for their black belt test. (running, pushups, etc.) Does your school require you to help teach? Any other interesting requirements? thanks

Our knife defenses begin around 5 gup(green) and our gun defenses at 2 gup(red) in my TSD schoool We also have stick defenses in all of these ranks. I enjoy practicing them because they have increased my skill in the close quarter range. The trapping and side stepping feel more practical than all the sparring skills. Also learning the disarms and arm/wrist locks has opened up a whole new aspect of martial arts for me. ..one I like a lot!

Hey,MWP- Welcome, glad to see you here and there! Another late night activity for we night owls.

Yes, Taikudo-ka, I agree with you; you must make a profit to survive and you must have passion for teaching. I was just trying to make a point about the difference in perception from a student point of view. Also, that I admire the courage it takes to start such an endeavor. You also have to check out your popululation. YOu can't have a school full of children and not create a program for them. Dealing with parents is a tricky part of it. When do you, as a business person, respond to the requests of the parents-customers-even if you don't agree totally with what they want? You don't want to sacrifice your beliefs/standards as a martial artist, but there are times this seems to come into conflict. I would think this is a problem for many people trying to run a school as a business. How do you decide what is important to you and how do you keep people happy enough to keep coming? I would like to know the answer! Parents are generally really happy at our school, but then there is group who get upset when I tell them it is time to renew their memberships or that they owe money for a test fee. I have never been upset by paying my karate dues; I would pay double. Some people want something for nothing. sorry a bit rambled

Hello, fun to hear all the variations of rank/belts. I am a 1 gup red in TSD -hopefully for about 6 more days. I am testing next Thursday night for my apprentice belt. I started karate for some unknown reason, loved how it keeps me in shape, and now I just love learning all the techniques I can. I am just plain addicted, can't explain it. I help teach classes including our cardio karate class, and I work 25 hours a week managing our school. I love all the people who teach there; they have become like a family to me. My husband wants to know why it takes 3-4 hours to take a 1.5 hour class-you know all the play time afterwards- the good stuff.

"Teach it and they will come" and stay. As students we all see through the instuctor whose first passion is not to teach. When you are a good or great teacher and you help make people lives better, students like the ones who roam this forum, will drive long distances and remain loyal. Just like the film "Field of Dreams" good things come to the character who relies on his passion first. The brother-in-law who places all his concerns on the finances loses in all ways. Okay I am an English teacher who loves metaphors, but I believe in all my teaching experiences, karate and others, that good teaching attracts good students, and good students will pay. I currently manage a karate school and hope to be part of operating one some day. Keep us posted as to how it goes. Good luck and have fun.

Hey jakmak, our bassai dai form is interpretted as breaking down the fortress, so I assume they are fairly close. I take at a TSD school, and I don't know about the origins of the form. I will ask though. We recently made changes in this form; tough to relearn a form!

Mine was 65. It felt strange to watch time pass and feel your heart beat-like life ticking away or something. I always test my rate during a cardio workout - usually around 180. Makes you wonder if it really is good for ya to have the heart pump so hard.

fee sounds reasonable, and the three month trial period is also reasonable. I also agree with Pacific, it is worth the 25 mile drive for a good school. Saving communting time is worth nothing if you don't like it or they are not effective instructors. Try it out. I pay 50 dollars an hour for some of my lessons-semi private- and it is worth it and the three hour round-trip commute. I don't go as often to that school, but it like a special treat once in a while.

I love the spinning crescent kick and don't care if I ever see a hook kick again. I really struggle with it. I developed a bad habit and it is hard to undo. I also like the tornado kick. Recently I have been having fun with this flying spinning back kick we have been doing. Makes me feel a lot younger!

I am also a TSDoer. Same school as MBP above. We are lucky because our school is very eclectic and we have the opportunity to learn from a bunch of styles after we get a base in TSD. I love the opportunity to get a taste of other martial arts.

Hey MBP- don't I know you from somewhere?Glad you found the site. Mamutti PS. My hand still feels funny. Was that a pressure point? My bone actually hurts so I don't know if that has something to do with it. Beware in class tomorrow night. :nod:

We have sip-soo as well. ( we also have Bassai Dai)

I have the sickness too- doing forms while driving, imagining how to spar certain people, bowing in and out of rooms in my house if I am thinking about martial arts, surfing karate forums all night!! I used to spend my evenings reading and preparing for my next day of teaching English. Now I have quit my teaching job and work at the karate school! My husband thinks his real wife has been kidnapped by aliens. I sometimes wonder myself. Isn't it great!

Yoda, Yes I know, that is why I am so upset that I can't make it up to see him. I feel lucky to live as close as I do when I hear from people all over that he is so well respected and that they would love to train with him. Kristin

Hi Yoda, I take lesson with Joe Maffei( over an hour drive from here) when I get a chance. I recently bought a house and I am managing the karate school where I regularly train. My training partner lives locally and we get together at our school here to practice. I hope I will have more time after we move. I don't like to take lessons if I have not time to practice! Luckily our school at the upper belt levels incorporates JKD as does the black belt class. I am lucky to study at a very diverse school. Do you know Joe Maffei? He is truly awesome. I began studying martial arts seriously after I attended a workshop he ran. I was so impressed with the way he could move his body and get out of so many stituations-especially on the ground. He teaches BJJ also. Kristin

We don't do a lot of breaking and it is a requirement for my apprentice test next month. So I guess it must also be a mental exercise. I have no idea what I will have to do. I guess it provides that surpise and mental challenge element to the test. My nine year old son can break the same boards as adults with any kick, spinning or otherwise. And then I see adult not be able to do it. I think it tests your confidence, your technique and your accuracy. Some times it seems so ease and then the next thing I know my hand is in pain for weeks ! I would like to know if there is a history behind it or something.

In my TSD school we do Bassai Dai. Did you have a question about it? I used to like it and then we made some changes and I am having a hard time unlearning it. We also have three Nianchi forms. I am working on the last. When I was beginning, I would watch others do this form and I never thought I could do. I struggled at first, but now I like Nianchi Samdan. My favorite form to do on the spot is pyang ahn sadan-don't know why-just flows for me. Chilsung ilro has been the hardest and most awkward form for me to learn. I am looking forward to learning our bo forms next.

All I can say is take it slowly. I pulled mine badly. I foolishly returned to class too quickly and then hurt it again. I stopped for about four months, but not really! I could never stand to miss class. I taught more and I took up the chucks and kali sticks so that I would not focus on missing class. I too read a lot, and I got some ultrasound and massage done through a chiropractic office. Stretch slowly and don't over do it. When I returned full time to class, I had no flexibility; I was upset, as I thought my karate days were over. Anyway, nine months or so later, I have my flexibility but also a soreness after class. Again I find warming up and stretching more important than ever. I will even excuse my self from class activities now to take care of myself. I don't want to be out for good. I don't know if it will every heal all the way.